The record-breaking Bermuda Storm is one of the most impressive attractions in the world and it took a host of creative minds and companies from every corner of the globe to bring it all together. Here’s the story behind its creation
Bermuda Storm is a collaboration featuring some of the attractions industry’s biggest names
When the world’s largest indoor theme park opened its doors in China last year, it came with a very special, record-breaking flagship attraction.
Part of the Zhuhai Chimelong Resort, Chimelong Spaceship is an aquatic park, with the attraction built around what is now the world's largest aquarium facility, featuring the world’s largest single aquarium tank.
More than 150,000 marine animals across 400 species are on display at the attraction, which features 15 themed zones and a number of ride additions.
Universe Paradise hosts the park’s rides, with attractions including China’s first real submarine underwater ride, a collection of themed carnival rides and play areas, and the record-holding anchor attraction.
Called Bermuda Storm, the ride is the world’s largest motion simulator attraction, accommodating up to 304 riders on a single motion-based platform. Combined with this to create a truly immersive experience is a wrap-around 270-degree curved projection screen, which at 1,682sq m (18,100sq ft) is the largest of its kind in the world.
The ride is impressive in size and scope, and such a grand attraction takes a credit list worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Led by chief director Zhigang Su, the Chimelong Creative Team headed up the development, with support from Chimelong Design, Production and Project Management.
On the supplier side of things, Brogent Technologies provided the gigantic media base, also handling ride design and engineering. The media system, which included audio, video, projection and show projection was supplied and integrated by Kraftwerk Living Technologies. The ride also features a number of special effects, which Technifex supplied, while Visual Terrain handled show lighting design and programming and Garner Holt produced animatronics. Finally, Mack Animation produced the media content, while Far Out’s Rick Rothschild acted as a creative director.
With these companies comes a range of technologies. By seamlessly integrating them, the combination has seen the creation of not only a record-breaker but a world-class attraction recently recognised with a Thea Award.
“Such an attraction cannot be created by one person or one vendor alone,” explains Brogent’s Stefan Rothaug.
“Chimelong has its own creative department. The whole idea came from them. When they first approached us, they thought it might be nearly impossible because it's such a big motion base platform. But they wanted to break the record so we found a way.”
The attraction, which sits inside a massive projection dome, was designed with its vast scale in mind, so it was created to match safety standards without seatbelts to accommodate its 300-plus passengers.
The ride starts with a pre-show inside a large ship, which uses water spray, animatronics and a multitude of other special effects to complete the experience. As you leave the interior, you emerge onto the ship’s bow, making it feel with the motion base and the wrap-around screen as though you are out on the open ocean. In the ride’s story, something goes wrong on the Caribbean-themed journey and the boat is attacked by a mythical sea monster during a high storm.
“Our core expertise is the movement of the seats with the media content,” says Rothaug.
“We delivered the platform and the floor, based on the theming, from the overall design. There are also some effects between the screen and the platform, so you can see real waves coming up, and there are machines to bring water mist down. All of this was synchronised with our show controls.”
At the heart of the Bermuda Storm immersive experience are the meticulously engineered and produced effects, developed by Technifex, to enhance the storyline and immerse guests. Among the effects are cannonball water splashes and intricately choreographed boat wake and splash effects that ingeniously avoid wetting the audience.
“Atmospheric enhancements, including overhead and bow fans with water mist effects, coupled with pulsating lightning effects and vibrations embedded in all the handrails, further amplify the immersive guest experience,” says Technifex. “Technifex also produced a massive lift system that raises the key character animatronic onto the bow of the ship to launch smoking cannonballs at the attacking sea pirates.”
Bermuda Storm claimed the 2024 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement, with the ride described as a “knockout attraction”.
“By seamlessly integrating a unique collection of innovative technologies and specially-created show elements that support a wild and crazy mythical sea adventure, the Bermuda Storm attraction invites guests to encounter a next-step immersive theme park experience,” said the Thea judges. “Locating the attraction within Chimelong’s marine science park is an unconventional placement yet an excellent fit.”
Rothaug adds: “The ship is surrounded on three sides with the 270-degree screen. It's really quite impressive - you can’t see the edge of the screen and you feel immersed. That's the big picture and it all comes together to make an amazing attraction.
“It was even bigger and better than I imagined. If it would be a small boat, it would just be another simulator. But now when you go, this open-air space that's really indoors, you really feel like, wow, this is something special.”
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